“Our Product Knock-out series is a match-up between two similar products. In boxing terms, think same weight class, same caliber, and same level of experience and amount of exposure. The purpose of these posts are for you to see a side-by-side view of two similar products, and to be able to understand which one will be crowned champ for your specific purposes. Take your seats and prepare for battle, because the gloves are coming out.”

Tyco Raychem Spec 44 and M27500 are both cables used in military and aerospace applications. They are both designed for work in the most challenging and demanding conditions possible, while still providing consistent, reliable performance. Let’s take a closer look at these two products, and see how they stack up against one another.

What is Raychem Spec 44 cable?

Tyco Raychem Spec 44 was originally designed for military and aerospace applications. Spec 44 wire is used in a variety of different industries, such as aircraft, commercial and military electronics, helicopters, satellites, ships, and trains. It offers dual wall construction which combines the outstanding physical and electrical characteristics of radiation crosslinked polyalkene with the excellent mechanical and chemical properties of radiation cross-linked polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Raychem Spec 44 is also highly flame retardant, non-melting, and easy to handle and install using conventional tools. In addition, it has a temperature rating of -65°C to +150°C with a voltage rating of 600 volts.

What is M27500 cable?

M27500 falls into the category of Mil Spec cable, meaning that it is military specific. Just like Raychem Spec 44, M27500 is also used in a variety of both military and commercial applications, including airframes, avionics, and ground support equipment. M27500 cable can also be manufactured to perform in almost every environment. It is insulated with cross-linked extruded Polyalkene (XL-PVDF), featuring a stranded tinned coated copper conductor. It offers a max temperature rating of 150°C with a voltage rating of 600 volts.

Construction and Electrical Specs

Raychem Spec 44

M27500

Conductor

Silver-coated copper

Stranded Tinned Coated Copper

Insulation

Radiation-crosslinked, extruded polyalkene

Cross-linked extruded Polyalkene (XL-PVDF)

Shield

N/A

Tinned Copper Braid, 85% Coverage

Jacket

Radiation-crosslinked, modified PVDF

Extruded Cross-linked Polyalkene (XL-PVDF)

Min Temperature Rating

-65°C

-65°C

Max Temperature Rating

150°C

150°C

Voltage

600

600

Raychem Spec 44 vs M27500

There is a lot of overlap when it comes to Raychem and M27500 cables. They are used in similar industries and applications, have the same temperature and voltage ratings, and can withstand challenging environmental conditions. That being said, they do have a few differences in their construction. The M27500 cable has a tin copper braided shield while the Raychem Spec 44 doesn’t have a shield. The braided shield provides a low-resistance path to ground and high conductivity. They also have different jacket materials, with the Raychem Spec 44’sbeing radiation-crosslinked, modified PVDF and the M27500’s Extruded Cross-linked Polyalkene (XL-PVDF). In this case, there is no clear winner between the products, and instead, it seems as if the match has ended in a technical decision. In this case it looks like our crownedchamp depends on your specific application use.

If you’re unsure if Raychem Spec 44 or M27500 would work best for your wire and cable needs, let Allied help you out! Compare full Raychem and M27500 specs or give your sales rep a call at 800-472-5655 with any questions.